Heather Robinson
During the life of a Parliament, many more persons than the 60 elected representatives will seek to determine, firstly among themselves, and then the constituents, whether they become a candidate and then ultimately an elected representative of the people.
My own process of making such a determination began sometime in June of 1992. At the time, I was a Senator having replaced Marjorie Taylor who had resigned to become the Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal. She succeeded retired Prime Minister Michael Manley.
DISCUSSION ABOUT ENTRY
The President of the People's National Party, P.J. Patterson, and I had a discussion about my entry into representational politics.
We spoke about various possibilities including western Westmoreland where I was born, and where my father had taught and been a Member of the House of Representatives from 1959-1962.
The journey from Hellshire in St. Catherine where I was then living is a long one, and I decided that it was just too far for me to work effectively.
We also spoke about a St. Andrew constituency, and I also decided against that seat. By this time it became clear that there would indeed be a new seat in St. Catherine where I had worked as the campaign manager for Hugh Small. I felt that would have been my best option.
This new constituency was made up of basically three parish council divisions from three constituencies: Gregory Park from the south, Greendale from East Central (both represented by the PNP's Hugh Small and K.D. Knight respectively) and the De La Vega City Division from Central represented by the JLP's Bruce Golding.
The Greendale and De La Vega City Divisions were represented by the PNP. The constituency was named St. Catherine South Central.
MAKING A SELECTION
After a brief period of campaigning, the National Executive Council of the PNP was required to make a decision on who should represent the party in the general elections, as the constituency was not recognised.
The choice was between Dr. D.K. Duncan and myself. On Saturday, July 25, 1992, the NEC voted and I received 80 votes, with four against and 17 abstentions.
Two weeks later on August 6, I was presented as the candidate by the president of the Party, P.J. Patterson, at a meeting held at the José Marti Technical High School.
There would be a period lasting eight months during which I would campaign to become the MP for St. Catherine South Central.
There was a small but very vocal dissident group that continued to believe that D.K. Duncan should be the candidate, and it was, therefore, necessary to find ways of integrating them into the campaign and organisational work of the constituency.
FIRST SIGNS OF TROUBLE
I was not always successful. The greatest effort was centred around the De La Vega City division which had not had PNP representation at the constituency level since 1980.
Some of the PNP supporters there made it very clear that they expected to literally play 'catch up' once the PNP candidate was elected. This group comprised mainly young men who also spent some of their time assisting the PNP's candidate in Central St. Catherine, Clinton 'Jingles' Davy.
This constant backing and forthing between both constituencies was to prove to be one of the first signals of possible trouble that should not have been ignored.
In December 1992, a Christmas work programme took place in the constituency, and it went relatively smoothly in the Gregory Park and Greendale divisions.
However, there was great dissatisfaction in the De La Vega City division. This same group of young males proceeded to show their disgust by painting anti-Heather Robinson and Enos Lawrence (the councillor) on various walls, as well as skulls and cross-bones.
During a Saturday evening visit alone to De La Vega City, I was met by a group of placard-bearing individuals.
One male came to my jeep window and promised to have me raped. They threw some of my calendars under the front of my jeep and lit them.
I hurriedly placed the jeep in reverse and successfully negotiated my way out of the community. All of this happened less than 50 yards from the home of the councillor.
After that bitter experience, I allowed myself to be nominated, and was elected as the MP. That was my choice, one that I continue to wonder whether it was the correct one.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
